Norwegian People’s Aid,Advisory Support to Learning and Data Management System needs for the Public Policy and Information Monitoring and Advocacy Project

Terms of
Reference for Advisory Support to Learning and Data Management System needs for
the Public Policy and Information Monitoring and Advocacy Project (PPIMA Phase
III)

Background

id (NPA) is an international NGO, founded in Norway in 1939
as the labour movement’s humanitarian solidarity organisation. NPA’s goal is
centered on human worth and equal rights for all, irrespective of sex,
disability, ethnicity, religion, age, sexual preference or social status. NPA
strives globally to promote the values of solidarity, unity, equality, human
rights and democracy.

Requirements

1. NPA
   wishes to recruit an external service provider to advise and facilitate a
   process of increased learning and adaptation. The consultant shall be
   guided by the NPA Partnership Policy. The knowledge management areas of
   PPIMA 3 are grouped around 4 suggested areas as follows:

a. Collecting the
right information through monitoring of different project activities, in order
that NPA is able to work with CSO partners to understand what the partners are
doing, capture progress, strengthen approaches and learn lessons on an
individual project basis.

b. Aggregating and
analysing the information around approaches, themes and challenges to
strengthen sharing and learning horizontally between different partners and
projects at district and national levels and provide new partners with support,
information and lessons learned from more established partners.

c. Developing the
right systems to enable the building of evidence bases around citizen
priorities and themes emerging from different partners’ experiences (including
with AJICs and ALACs) and involve district and national partners in further
analysis to escalate robust evidence for the development of advocacy campaigns.

d. Tracking
government agreements and commitments made as a result of national campaigns
and district processes in order to stimulate learning about the kinds of
advocacy and evidence that are effective in bringing about and sustaining
policy and social changes.

1. This
   will include:

a. Review PPIMA
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) system and existing documentation and
analysis. This should include interviews with PPIMA partners and beneficiary
communities.

b. Produce a report
on identified MEL processes, strengths, and gaps with recommendations on how to
improve PPIMA MEL. The report will include a detailed work plan for addressing
identified MEL challenges. This will include workshopping the findings with
PPIMA partners to reach consensus on the findings.

c. A call-down
technical facility to support improvement on PPIMA MEL system to:

(i) Address gaps in
collection, analysis, communication of learning,

(ii) Achieve
systematic and consistent application of MEL system,

(iii)Support efforts
to make the findings of MEL more evident and communicable.

The service provider
will support and advise better knowledge management within PPIMA in the
following areas:

Monitoring

NPA and partners
together review progress to learn and adapt the programme design and
implementation processes in order for PPIMA partners to develop sound evidence
to underpin advocacy and to produce better results. There is a need to ensure
that the MEL system is fit for purpose and that it facilitates feedback loops
between Partners and NPA.

Evaluation

Monitoring and
knowledge management systems provide the required data for measuring the
achievement of the results stated in the PPIMA results framework. The MEL
system that will be confirmed by this consultancy should form the basis of any
subsequent evaluations.

Learning

PPIMA 3 will have a
strong focus on learning and adaptation of the project approaches to assess
what are the most appropriate and effective approaches to citizen participation
and empowerment, how to engage in government created spaces, the effectiveness
of ALAC and AJICs, CSOs capacity building and advocacy approaches, the
community score card and the testing, adaptation and replications of these
approaches. As different approaches are tested in different situations,
increased evidence and learning will play a key role in identifying the best
approach in different situations.

The service provider
should develop the most relevant approaches to ensure maximum learning from old
and new information and evidence. This will include working with and advising
NPA and CSOs to develop more effective PPIMA communication and dissemination
interventions, advocacy and achievements.

Capacity
building

The service provider
shall support improvement of NPA and partner capacity to implement MEL systems
for collection, analysis and communication of learning and results, and achieve
consistent applications of them.

Deliverables
and Timelines

Phase I–Inception report:
The first phase of the assignment will be to prepare an inception report
indicating the consultant’s interpretation of the Terms of Reference, work plan
and timeline for the assignment. The inception report will be presented to
PPIMA steering committee for comments

Phase II– A high quality MEL review
report incorporating elements mentioned in paragraph 5b above. This report will
be workshopped with NPA and PPIMA Partners (Implementing Partners and Steering
Committee Members). This Phase is expected to take 30 days, January-February
2017

After Phase II there
will be a break clause before confirming proceeding with Phase III

Phase III-
Technical Assistance:
This phase will focus on TA support to NPA and Partners on ways to improve
PPIMA MEL. The timeline and duration for this phase will depend on the findings
of the review in phase II.

Approach and
Methodology

The consultant will
propose a suitable approach and methodology, work plan and timeline to deliver
the assignment. The methodology will include:

· Desk review (PPIMA
III proposal, reports[1], evaluation, MEL tools, etc.)

· Meetings with
Steering Committee representatives, NPA team and partners

· Field work with
NPA and partners to evaluate current effectiveness of MEL practices and
identify gaps in collection, analysis and communication of learning

· Meetings with
other relevant stakeholders

· Internal workshops
to discuss and agree on findings and develop recommendations for improvements
to the MEL system

· Work with NPA on
revising MEL tools to integrate improvements

The technical
proposal will articulate clearly the approach to deliver this assignment with
clear costs detailed in the financial proposal.

Team
Structure and Skills

The consultant will
demonstrate knowledge and expertise to deliver the service including:

(i) Expertise and understanding
of learning for empowerment and accountability processes (Policy and Practice)

(ii) Strong understanding and
expertise of working with citizens, civil society organisations, governments,
and development partners (DPs) in fragile and post conflict environments.
Expertise of similar programmes in sub-Saharan Africa desirable.

(iii) Knowledge and skills in
monitoring and evaluation with a specific focus on empowerment and
accountability programming. Knowledge of qualitative research methodologies,
particularly regarding attitudes toward sensitive subjects is desirable.

(iv) Knowledge of Outcome Mapping
and Logical Frameworks is desirable.

Coordination
and Reporting Arrangements

NPA will manage and
coordinate the assignment working with all stakeholders. The service provider
will report to the NPA Management

The service provider
will be entirely responsible for logistical arrangements including the
programme of meetings and activities, transport, hotel bookings and visa
applications and NPA will provide support when and where it is possible.

[1] PPIMA II
Mid-term review, PPIMA II Project Completion Report, , PPIMA II evaluative
review report, PPIMA III Proposal etc

This consultancy was
originally advertised in December ’16/ January 2017. The deadline is now
extended to 30 January. Please send your response to Anita Namara: Anitan@npaid.org